Lined box structure



Jan. 12, 1954 R. M. BERGSTEIN 2,665,835

LINED BOX STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.@851??- MBEfGSTE/M mu BY AT TO RNEYS- Jan. 12, 1954 7 R. M. BERGSTEIN2.66558 I LINED BOX STRUCTURE v Filed Nov. 27, 1948 '2 Shgets-Sheec 2mm? M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LINED BOX STRUCTURERobert M. Bergstein, Wyoming, Ohio Application November 27, 1948, SerialN 0. 62,257

My invention relates to the provision of lined paperboard box structuresof knock-down form, i. e. capable of being shipped flat and set up bythe user, in which the liner and the paperboard blank are integrallyjoined in the process of manufacture, and need not be handled asseparate pieces by the user.

Various structures of this class have hitherto been suggested. Thefamiliar window carton is one in which an opening is formed in one ormore panels and covered on the inside surface of the carton with a sheetof transparent material such as cellophane, adhered to the carton wallsabout the edges of the opening. The usual window carton is not a linedcarton in the sense here used, for the sheet of cellophane has an areanot greatly larger than that of the opening in the wall or walls, sothat substantial areas of the paperboard from which the carton is madeare exposed to the contents of it. Windows have, however, been formed inlined cartons.

In the manufacture of lined cartons it has been proposed, for example,to ply a liner to one or both sides of a supply of boxboard, and thenform cartons therefrom by the usual operations of cutting, scoring and(where required) folding and gluing. This is an expensive procedurerequiring combining equipment, and involving a wastage of linersubstance equivalent to the scrap loss of the paperboard incident to themanufac ture of the carton. In modern merchandising visibility of thecontents along with all-over inner protection is of great importance. Inthe type of structure just mentioned the problem of providing windows isa serious one. be provided in the bulk supply of boxboard prior tolaminating, but this often results in the liner being covered withadhesive over the window area, which is disadvantageous, and entails thefurther difiiculty that the correlation of preformed openings in a bulksupply with box blanks to be formed in a separate operation from sheetscut from the supply is commercially impracticable. Even if a slow sheetlining method is used, it will be evident that there will be an initialoperation to cut out the window openings and a subsequent operation toform the cartons as such. these operations being separated by alaminating step; all of which results in a complicated and expensiveprocedure.

Again it has been proposed to form carton blanks and associate linersheets with them. In some forms of box blank, sheets of liner materiallarger in area than the blank are employed, and the resultant structuresinvolve either in their Openings can 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) formation orin their erection a folding of the liner as well as the blank. In otherforms, as where closure flaps or the like are employed, and since it isimpracticable to configure the liner sheet as the blank is configured,it has been necessary in some instances to use linersheets'substantially smaller than the paperboard blanks with the resultthat the boxes are incompletely lined. In other instances larger linersheets have been employed, but must be left free from certain portionsof the box blanks, which gives rise to a handling problem. Wherever in acomposite structure of box blank and liner, any substantial edge lengthof the liner is left free of the blank, the structures tend to catch oneach other with possible tearing of the liner, thus destroying itsutility. Wherever the liner extends substantially beyond the confines ofthe blank, the liner tends to be rumpled and creased in handling and inmany instances to separate from the blank. Also the liner must beseparately folded andmanipulated in closing the compositestructuresafter the contents have been placed in them.

It is a fundamental object of my invention to provide lined structuresin which the abovementioned disadvantages are avoided.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure combining aboxboard blank and a liner sheet, in which the blank and sheet are ofthe same or substantially the same size and shape and may be readily andeconomically associated together through the employment of thelordinary"cellophane window machines in current use in the box making art. j

It is an object of myinyention to provide a simple and inexpensive boxor folder structure in which a rectangular sheet of lining material isassociated with a rectangular or substantially rectangular blank so asto line all parts of it, which are exposed to the contents, in which'thefolding of the box walls resultsin a folding of the liner in erectingthe structure so that extra manipulations are not required, and in whichlocking means may be provided and employed to hold the structure inerected condition without configuration or cutting of the liner sheet,and without exposing to the contents of the package any part of thepaperboard blank.

It is an object of my invention to provide struc=- tures of the classset forth at substantial savings over any of the hitherto known types oflined box structures. It is an object of my invention to provide acompletely lined blank for a box, in which the liner sheet does notextend beyond the general confines of the blank, and is bound to-the 3blank for substantially the entire length of its peripheral edges.

It is an object of my invention to provide a composite structure inwhich an absolute minimum area of liner material is employed to achievethe completely lined box. The importance of this will be evident when itis realized that in many instances the liner is the more expensivematerial involved. In my structures the exact minimum amount of linermaterial is used which will provide dependably a complete inner liningwhen the package is assembled. There is no wastage or scrapping of linerstock. The boxboard blanks moreover are so designed as to involve aminimum scrap loss, as will be pointed out hereinafter. In this waysavings up to and exceeding 10% ,of the cost of the structures areeffected as compared with lined boxes of the same capacity otherwiseproduced. 7

It is also an object of my invention to provide box structures which areunique in that they involve a e-panel enclosure for the contents, thatis to say, a top, a bottom and .four sides, five of the six panels beingprotected :-by an integral and unbroken sheet of .li-ner material,whereas the sixth panel is protected by fully lined parts which areabutted or 'mitered in relation to each other.

Itis an object of my invention to provide lined structures in which:nounlined portion of the boxboard is presented to the contents, yet inwhich no manipulation of a liner sheet is required apart from themanipulation of the composite structure as a whole.

Itis an object of my invention to provide a type of structure in whichthe boxboard blank is rectangular, and in many instances square,irrespec- ;'trve of widely varied ratios of length, width and thicknessin the completed box, and in which a blank is run through the liningoperation with the main fold lines substantially diagonal to thedirection of travel of the blank.

It is an object of my invention to provide a lined box of the type setforth in which the bottom panel and the various side panels togetherwith the liner may form a water-tight structure in which, for example,materials of high liquid content may be introduced for subsequent freez-It is an object of my invention to provide structures in which the linersheet is either square or rectangular so that it may be cut convenientlyand without waste from a continuous supply.

It is an object of my invention to provide structures in which while theultimate box will be fullylinedas set forth, the sheet of liner materialdoes not project beyond the main outlines of the blank and may besecured continuously through out its periphery to all contiguousportions of the blank, thus leaving no portions of the liner sheetprojecting beyond the main outlines of the blank and only exceedinglyminor portions of the periphery of the liner unsecured to the blank. Myinvention is not limited by the nature of the liner sheet, which will bea flexible sheet material the substance of which may be chosen in thelight of the particular qualities desired. By way of non-limitingexamples, a glassine paper may be employed where its particularqualities of grease-proofness are desired; various plied materialsinclusive of papers, foils and films may be employed where theirqualities of proofness, appearance and the like are of importance; andwhere transparency and gloss as well as proofness contribute to theutility of the box, or where windows are desired, various ones of thetransparent films of commerce are available. I shall hereinafterdescribe exemplary stmctures in which cellophane is used as a liner, itbeing understood that the substance of the liner does not affect thestructure claimed, excepting as set forth above. I shall describetypical structures in which the liner is associated with the insidesurface of the paperboard blank.

The objects of the invention which have been set forth above and otherswhich will be discussed hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilledin the art upon reading these specifications, Iaccomplish by thatprocedure and in that structure and arrangement of parts of which Ishall now describe certain exemplary embodiments. Reference is made tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank and liner sheet associated inaccordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of Figure l in apartially erected condition.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the completely erected and closed box"from the under side.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the completely erected and closed boxfrom the upper side.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a paperboard blank and an associated linersheet forming a mothfica-tion of my invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the partially erected box.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the completely erected and closed boxfrom the under side.

Figure '8 is a perspective view of the completely erected and closed boxfrom the upper side.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a blank and associated liner sheet generallysimilar to that of Figure 5 but showing a variation of the constructionat the corner forming portions.

Figure 10 is a plan view of :a blank and. associated liner sheet, alsogenerally similar to .that'of Figure 5, but showing yet another form ofcorner construction.

In the various figures solid lines indicate lines of out, and dash-dotlines indicate lines of scaring. Referring to Figure 1, I. have shown at20, a rectangular paperboard blank which will be understood to have beenprinted as desired. It is cut and scored to provide a main pane-I23which will form the top of the box when erected, side walls 24 and 2.6articulated to the side edges or the main panel 23, and end panels '2 5and 21 articulated to its end edges. These elements are arrangeddiagonally .or aslant on the blank as shown; and there are =left at eachcorner of the blank triangular tabs or flaps 28., 29., 30 and Si which,in the erected structure, will coact to form the bottom panel. The blankmay be notched out at the ends of the side and end walls as shown at i2,l3, l4 and [5. A window opening 32 is shown as formed in the main panel23 and the side walls 25 and 26, and is exemplary only. Window openingson. a size and shape other than that shown in Figure 1 may be employed.

In order to assure positive overlapping of the flaps, it will be notedin Figure '1 that I have carried outwardly the edges of the flap 2B asat28a and 2% beyond the rectangular main outline of the blank. vAlso at30c and 3012.1 have provided lateral projections on the side edges ofthe flap 36. These projections have pointed outer as shown, formingtongues. Slits '33. and

5 34 are formed as shown in the triangular flaps 29 and 3|.

While the paperboard blank of Figure 6 is not truly rectangular inabsolute outline, it is generally of that shape, and its edges remainsuch as to provide adequate coaction with the guides in a cellophanewindow machine and in the hopper thereof. It will be understood thatthis bank, and all blanks herein illustrated, are sent through acellophane window machine in the direction of one of their rectangularsides. A sheet of cellophane or other lining material is applied to theblank by the window machine, and is indicated in Figure l at 35. It willbe adhered to the blank in the shaded area '36 about the rectangularperiphery of the blank; but it may be adhered elsewhere also if desiredas at areas 31 adjacent the window 32, andareas in the interior of theflaps as at 38. The projections 28a, 28b, 30a and 30bextend beyond therectangular periphery of the liner sheet, as shown. At the apex of theflap 28 I may provide a locking tongue 39 adapted to enter a slit 40.formed in the flap 30.

In erecting the box, the end walls 25 and 21 are first erected, andtheir flaps 29 and 3| folded over into the rear plane of the box,whereupon the side wall 26 may then be erected, the flap 30 folded overand the tongue-like pointed ends of the extensions 30a and 301) may thenbe engaged in the slits 33 and 34 in flaps 29 and 3|. This will hold theerected parts in erected condition, giving a structure which may then befilled with contents like an envelope (if the contents have not alreadybeen inserted in the package). Then the side .wall 24 may be erected,the flap 28 folded over and the locking tongue 39 thrust downwardly intothe slit 4!]. The box then will be securely closed, and there will be anadequate overlap offiaps to provide an adequate protective closure onthe bottom of the box. The extension of the cellophane or other linersheet beyond the knocked-out portions of the blank in the areas l2, I3,I 4 and |5leaves small bellows-folding portions of the liner sheet atthe ends of the side and end walls. These may either be folded inwardlyor cut oil in the completed structure.

In any event it will be observed that I have provided in this structurea paperboard blank lined on the inside throughout with a liner sheet;that one or more of the flaps involved are cut or slitted as to thepaperboard portion but not as to the liner sheet; and that when the endsof the locking tongues are thrust through these cuts or slits theyengage between the paperboard portion of the flap and a continuous uncutportion' of the liner sheet therebeneath so that these paperboardportions are prevented from coming into contact with the contents of thepackage. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate respectively the bottom and topsides of the completed package.

The boxes of my invention are formed from blanks which are generallyrectangular or square in outline, with the main panel and side and endwalls disposed in directions parallel to the diagonals f the rectangleor square. This does not, however, circumscribe the general size andshape of the boxes produced. Figure 1 illustrates a structure for a boxhaving relatively deep side and end walls and being ofelongated,"'rectangular (non-square) form. "In Figure I have shown a boxof square form, but with relatively narrower side and end walls. Sincethe blanks are generally rectangular they can be cut without substantialwaste from rectangular sheets of paperboard, even when extensions areprovidedas taught in Figures 1, 5, 9 and 10 hereof. The reason for thisis that when the blanks are reversed they nest, and the extent of theprojec tions may readily be controlled to permit nesting. In Figure 5, Ihave shown a blank for a square box having a main panel 4|, side and endwalls 42, 43, 44 and 45 articulated respectively to the sides and endsof the main panel, and flaps 45, 41, 48 and 49 on the outer edges of theside and end walls. A window 50 common to the side Walls and the mainpanel may be provided as shown. Relatively wide lateral extensions 48aand 481) are formed on the edges of the flap 48, and the approachingends of these extensions are configurated to provide tongues 5| and'52which, in the erected structure will engage in slots 53 and 54 in thetriangular flaps 41 and 49, in a way already explained. Much widerextensions indicated at 46c and 46b are provided on the flap 46, and alocking tongue 55 is pro vided at its apex which will engage in a slot55 in the flap 48 substantially coinciding with its score line, in a wayalso already explained. The parts are so proportioned that the distancebetween the line of articulation of the flap 46 to the sidewall 42 andthe base of the locking tongue 55 is substantially equal to the width ofthemain panel 4|.

Paperboard blanks oLf the kind shown in Figure 5 are sent as before,through a cellophane window machine and receive liner sheetssubstantially congruent to the general rectangular outline of the blank,and adhered to the blank about the peripheries of the liner sheets, andelsewhere if desired. The liner sheet in Figure 5 is indicated at 51.The manner of erecting and closing this box will be understood from thedescription above. Figure 6 illustrates the box in partially erectedcondition with flap 48 locked to flaps 4'1 and 49 and the box incondition to be filled like an envelope. Figure 7 illustrates thecompletely closed box from the reverse or bottom side, while Figure 8shows it from the top side.

My boxes may, as above indicated, be erected about solid contents, orstyles of boxes such as those illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 may bepartially erected before the introduction of the contents and thecontents thereafter introduced through the area to be occupied by the asyet unfolded side. Such a method of erection and filling is suitable foruse with contents which can not act as a cform for the erection of thebox. There are, however, instances in which it is undesirable to fillthe box in the partially erected condition illustrated in Figure 6.Wherethese conditions are encountered, it is withinthe scope of byinvention to provide a form or jig into which a partially erected boxmaybe placed. The partially erected condition of the box would be one.in which side and end walls 42, 43, 44 and 45 were erected at rightangles to the main panel 4|, but in which the flaps 48, 41, 48 and 49remain unfolded until after the filling. While the box is still in theform or jig, the contents of whatever nature, are introduced, andthereafter the fiaps are foldedQand interengaged. It will be noted notonly that my blanks are fully lined throughoutwith the liner sheet, butat the corners the liner sheet is formed.

into bellows folds so that the boxes are suitable for use with contentswhich are filled into them in such soft condition as to be likely toexude 7 at "the corners of boxes not provided m'th bellows holds,

Especially where the side and end :walls of the 2811B relatively deep,instead ,of notchi-ng out-the paperboard blank between the ends of theside and end 1 may permit the paperboard toremain in these positionsanddiagonally score it to provide paperboard bellows .folds which willassist the bellowsdolding :of the liner sheet, and also assist inmaintaining the positions of the ends of the side :and end walls,thereby zgreatly strengthening the :box. This is illustrated in Figure:9 where the paperboard webs connecting the ends of the side and endwalls have been allowed to remain in the blank at 158, 59, 60 and .611and have been diagonally scored as :at 6,2, and

Yet :again, ;as illustrated in Figure .10, :it is within the scope ofany invention to provide :a strnotm'e in which the side and end wallswill maintain themselves in erected .form without the use :of a :jigdescribed above. In this figure, lnwhlch like parts are designated bylike index numerals, the portions of board in :the paperboard blanklying between the ends of the side and end wall elements, areoonfigurated to form locking tongues :66, 1611 .68 and 59, which in theerected structure will engage in slots 10, :ll, l2 and 13 in {the :two:end walls. In setting up this structure the engagement of the lockingtongues in the slots ,efiected immediately upon erecting the :side andend walls with respect to the main panel, after which the box willretain its shape during filling. The liner sheet will of course not beadhered to the locking tongues, and theportionsflymg between-the ends ofthe side and end walls will be bellows-folded, with the folds extendinginwardly :oi the box. After the box has been filled contents, thevarious triangular flaps may be folded over onto the contents andinterengaged as hereinabove described.

Modifications may be :made my invention without departing from thespirit thereof. Having thus described my inventionin certain exemplaryembodiments, what .I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patentis:

1. .In a machine lined paperboard box structure having enclosing bodywalls and incorporating a liner having "the minimum rectangular area forcompletely internally lining the enclosing walls of said box structure,said box structure being "formed from a paperboard blank cut and scoredto provide a main panel, side and end wall panels articulated to saidmain panel, and fiapniembers articulated to saidside and end wall panelsfor forming the remaining wall of said boxstructure, a rectangularfliner sheet overlying said bottompanel and said side and end panels,saidrectangular liner sheet being diaeona'lly disposed with respect tosaid main panel and having its edges coinciding with the outermostcorners of said side and end wall panels, thereby providing triangularliner portions extending outwardly beyond said side and end wall panelsand overlying said .flap members, three of said flap members beingtriangular in outline and having their edges coinciding with the edgesof the overlying corner portions of said liner sheet, the fourth of saidclosure flaps being larger than the overlying corner portion of saidliner sheet and extending beyond the "edges thereof, said triangularportions being marginally." secured to said flap members, said firstnamed three flap members being adapted to be folded into edge abutting:relation in the erected box, whereby to bring edge portions of thecorresponding liner corners into abutting relation, said fourth :dapbeing foldable to overlie edge portions cf said firstnamed three flapmembers with the corner portion of the liner secured to said fourth flapmember in edge abutting relation with adjacent edge portions of theliner corners secured to the :opposed pair of said first named three:flap members.

2. :In a machine linedpaperboard box structure having enclosing body-walls :and incorporating a liner having the minimum rectangular areafor completely internally lining the enclosing walls of said boxstructure, said box structure being formed from a paperboard blank cutand scored to provide a :main panel, side and end wall panelsarticulated to said main panel, :and flap members articulated to said.side and end wall panels for .forming the remaining wall :of said "boxstructure, a rectangular liner sheet overlying said bottom panel andsaid side .and end wall panels, :said rectangular liner sheet beingdiagonally disposed with :respect to said main panel and having itsedges coinciding with the outermost corners of :said side and end wallpanels, thereby providing triangular liner portions extending outwardlybeyond said side and end Wall panels .and overlying said'flap members,three of said flap members being triangular in outline and having theiredges coinciding with the edges of the overlying corner portions of saidliner sheet, the fourth of said closure iflaps being larger than theoverlying corner portion of said .liner sheet and extending beyond theedges thereof, rsaidtriangular portions :be'ing marginally secured tosaid flap members, said first named three flap members being :adapted tobe folded into edge abutting relation in the erected box, whereby tobring edge portions of the corresponding linercorners into abuttingrelation, said fourth flap being foldable to overlie edge por tions ofsaid first named three flap members with the corner portion of the linersecured to said fourth flap member in edge abutting relation withadjacent edge portions of the liner corners secured to the opposed pairof said first named three flap members, interlocks for fasteningtogether said first named threefiap members to provide a structure whichmay be filled envelope-wise, said interlocks comprising minorprojections extending outwardly beyond the triangular outline of atleast one of said first named three flap members and adapted 'to overliean adjacent flap member in the erected structure, the fourth of saidflap members including locking means for securing it in folded conditionoverlying the said first named three 'flap members.

1.3. In a, machine lined paperboard box structure having enclosing bodywalls and incorporating a. liner having the minimum rectangular area forcompletely -internally lining the enclosing walls of said box structure,said box structure being formed from a paperboard blank out and scoredto provide a main panel, side and end wall panels articulated to saidmain panel, and flap members articulated to .said side and end wallpanels for forming the remaining wall of said box structure, arectangular liner sheet overlying said bottom panel and said side andend wall panels, said rectangular liner sheet being diagonally disposedwith respect to said main panel and having its edges coinciding with theoutermost corners of said side and end wall panels, thereby providingtriangular liner portions extending outwardly beyond said side and endwall panels and overlying said fiap members, three of said flap membersbeing triangular in outline and having their edges coinciding with theedges of the overlying corner portions I of said liner sheet, the fourthof said closure flaps being larger than the overlying corner portion ofsaid liner sheet and extending beyond the edges thereof, said triangularportions being marginally secured to said flap members, said first namedthree fiap members being adapted to be folded into edge abuttingrelation in the erected box, whereby to bring edge portions of thecorresponding liner corners into abutting relation, said fourth flapbeing foldable to overlie edge portions of said first named three flapmembers with the corner portion of the liner secured to said fourth flapmember in edge abutting relation with adjacent edge portions of theliner corners secured to the opposed pair of said first named three flapmembers, interlocks for interconnecting said first named three flapmembers to provide a structure which may be filled envelope-wise, saidinterlocks comprising locking tongues extending beyond the triangularoutline of the intermediate one of said first named three fiap membersand adapted to overlie the opposed pair of said flap members, the saidopposed pair of flap members having slits therein for engagement by saidlocking tongues, said fourth closure flap including locking means forsecuring it in folded condition overlying said first named three fiapmembers.

4. In a machine lined paperboard box structure having enclosing bodywalls and incorporating a liner having the minimum rectangular area forcompletely internally lining the enclosing walls of said box structure,said box structure being formed from a paperboard blank cut and scoredto provide a main panel, side and end wall panels articulated to saidmain panel, and flap members articulated to said side and. end wallpanels for forming the remaining wall of said box structure, arectangular liner sheet overlying said bottom panel and said side andend wall panels, said rectangular liner sheet being diagonally disposedwith respect to said main panel and having its edges coinciding with theoutermost corners of said side and end wall panels, thereby providingtriangular liner portions extending outwardly beyond said side and endwall panels and overlying said flap members, three of said flap membersbein triangular in outline and having their edges coinciding with theedges of the overlying corner portions of said liner sheet, the fourthof said closure flaps being larger than the overlying corner portion ofsaid liner sheet and extending beyond the edges thereof, said triangularportions being marginally secured to said flap members, said first namedthree flap members being adapted to be folded into edge abuttingrelation in the erected box, whereby to bring edge portions of thecorresponding liner corners into abutting relation, said fourth flapbeing foldable to overlie edge portions of said first named three flapmembers with the corner portion of the liner secured to said fourth flapmember in edge abutting relation with adjacent edge portions of theliner corners secured to the opposed pair of said first named three flapmembers, portions of said blank lying between the ends of said side andend wall panels being severed from one pair of said wall panels andremaining in articulation with the other pair of said wall panels andbeing further configured to provide locking tongues engageable in slitsin the last named pair of said wall panels, whereby the side and endwall panels of said box structure may be erected with respect to saidmain panel and held in erected condition during filling of said boxstructure prior to the infolding of said flap members.

ROBERT M. BERGSTEIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 208,412 Meschenmoser Sept. 24, 1878 1,112,559 Reilly Oct. 6,1914 1,760,106 Beach May 27, 1930 1,794,153 Creason Feb. 24, 19312,284,604 Brooks May 26, 1942 2,406,061 Cass, Jr. Aug. 20, 19462,410,486 Evans Nov. 5, 1946 2,430,610 Guyer Nov. 11, 1947 2,465,841Bonini Mar. 29, 1949

